Meter box



A. CASPER METER BOX March 11 1924.

Filed April 27. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MENTOR ALBERT C/L5/V7EE' ATTY.

Patented Mar. 11, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Application med A ru 21, 1921. Serial no. 465,068.

To all whom-it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT CASPER, a.

citizen of the United States, residin at Vallejo,in the-county of Solano and tate of California, have invented new and useful Im rovements in Meter Boxes, of which the fol owing is a specification.

This invention relates to a meter box, and especially toathat type of boxes which are provide for the'purpose of Sn porting and inclosing watt hour meters an like devices em loyed in electric lighting circuits, etc.

ne of the objects of the present invention is'to providea simple, substantial, cheapl manufactured, andeasily assembled box of thecharac'ter described by which a watt hourmeter, withconnected fuse blocks, etc., maybe supported and inclosed; .further to provide a box which may be installed on the outside of a building, or in an other convenient place, where the meter wil be accessible at all times for reading, ins ection, testing, re airs, etc.

other object of t e invention is to rovide a box which will so completely inc ose the meter, -etc.,{ that it will be protected against rain, moisture, and other damage, and which is provided with a seal or look which willprevent theft of current, tampering., etc. p

Another object of the invention is to provide a removable front section, together with means for su porting said section when in place and ocking it against removal.

Another object of the invention is to rovide an adjustablesupport within the ox for the support of the watt hour meter.

Further objects will hereinafter appear. The invention consists of the arts and the construction, combination an arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully de scribed and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-- b Fig. isa. perspective view of the meter Fi 2 is a front view of the meter box showing the front section of the box removed. v

Fig. 3 is a cross's'ection of the box. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the box.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rear halfof the box. 1

Fig. 6 is a perspective view partly broken away of the removable front section of the box.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indlcates in general the rear section of the -meter box, and B the front section. These 7 sections are more clearly illustrated in Fi 1, 5 and6. The rear section consists o a plate 2,. side sections 3, a bottomsection 4, and a top section 5. The top section, together with the bottom and side sections, may be constructed of sheet metal or like material and may be formed as an integral part, if desired, or the several sections may be riveted, spot welded or otherwise secured. The top section 5 extends beyond the side section 3 and the bottom section 4 and thereby forms a cover for the front or removable section B, as will hereinafterbe described. The top section is provided with .a continuous downwardly projecting flange which extends around the front and sides as indicated at-6 and 7, respectively; The front edges of the side sections 3 are rounded or beaded as at 8 to form a air of guide members for the rece tion 0? B when this is li ed into place. The front section consists of a plate 9 in which is formed a window 10. It is otherwise provided with side sections 11 and a bottom section 12, said sections being also formed of sheet metal and preferably stamped from a single sheet. The edges of the side sections 11 are channeled as at 13 to receive the flanged or beaded edges 8 of the side sections 3, and the bottom section 12 is referably extended a short distance beyon the channeled section 13 to permit it to underlie the bottom section 4.

Formed or otherwise secured on the side sections 3 is a air of downwardly extending 111 14. hese lugs are perforated as at 15 or the reception of a lockin bar 16, one end of which is provided wit a head 17 while the other end is perforated as at 18 to receive a wire upon which may be placed a seal 19. This bar does not only serve the function of a lock and seal for the box, but it also serves as a support for the removable front section B when this is in place.

For the purpose of providing a convenient means for securing the box as a whole to a wall or other suitable support, a plurality of projecting lugs 20 as been rovided, one 1n each lower corner as shown 1n Fig. 1, and one at the center and upper end as indicated at 21. These projections are perforated to receive screws or other the front section suitable fastening means, and they are riveted or otherwise secured to the back Plate For the purpose of rovidmg a conven1ent support interior of t e box section A, for the reception of the watt hour meter 1nd1- cated by dotted lines at 23 see Flg. 2, I have rovided a pair of adjustable legs 24. These egs are pivotally attached to the rear plate 2, as at 25, and each leg is slotted from end to end, as indicated at 26, for the receptlon of a clamping screw 27. Practically all watt hour meters employed are provided with three securing lugs, such as indicated by dotted lines at 28, 29 and 30. The watt hour meters however vary in height, and width and it is therefore more or less essential that an adjustable support be provided therefor. The upper lug 28 may be secured by means of a permanent fastening screw 31, whiletlielower lugs 29 and 3 1, which may va both wi th and helght, are in this mstance secured to the pivotally mounted legs 24 by means of the clamplng screws 27, that is slidin movement of the clamping screws in the s ots 26 permits vertical adjustment, while movement of the legs about their pivotal supports 25 takes care of lateral adjustment or any variation in width. The casing is otherwise provided with a plate 40- which is riveted or otherwise secured to the rear plate or panel 2. This plate is drilled and tapped at a plurality of oints as indicated at 41 to receive fuse blocks of varying sizes, and to this extent may be termed an adjustable support for the reception of the fuse blocks.

In actual operation with the casing or box sections so arated as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, it is obvlous that a watt hour meter may be inserted and secured by the screw 31 and the adjustable supporting legs 24, and similarly that one or more use blocks may be inserted and secured and the several connections made as the entire front of the box is open and as such is accessible for any work re uired. The leads to and from the meter an the fuse blocks are then passed out through an opening 42. The box may now be closed by engaging the channeled sections 13 with the flanges and lifting thesection B in an upward direction until further movement is stopped by the top section 5.

The rod 16-is next inserted and sealed and a as it passes directly below the bottom section 12, it is obvious that it not only sup orts the removable section, but it also 100 s it against removal as it would be necessary to break the seal and remove the rod before the front section could be released. The box thus assembled may be attached to a wall or other convenient support on the outside of a buildin where it is accessible at all times for reading, testing, repairs, inspection, etc.

e box may be exposed at all times as it is absolutely rain and damp proof, that is the channeled sections 13 over ap the track or guide sections 8 and form a weather'- roof 'oint at this point. The flanges 6 and on t e top section 5 overlap the sides and front 9 of the removable section B, thus forming a weather-proof joint at this point, and the final joint 1s formed by the bottom section 12 which underlies the bottom section 4. The meter with connected mechanism is thus amply protected both against wind, rain and weather, current theft or tampering is prevented, and the meter and connected parts are otherwise protected against damage from exterior sources, whether malicious or otherwise, as it is perfectly inclosed within the box. The entire inclosure is simple and substantial in construction and may be readily assembled or taken apart by authorized persons when required, and while the structure is here more or less specifically illustrated, I wish it understood that various changes in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, similarly that the materia s and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or varying uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A meter box of the character described comprising a rectangular-shaped box ver tically divided into two separable sections, a sliding connection formed between the two sections at the sides thereof, a fixed top extending between and projecting beyond.

the sliding connection, means for rendering the sliding connection at the adjoining upper and lower ends of the respective sections weather-proof, and means for supporting one section with relation to the other and for locking the same against separation.

2. A meter, box of the character described comprising a rectangular-she ed box vertically divided into separable f f'ont and rear sections, a vertically disposed sliding joint forming a connection between the two sections, means for forming said sliding con.- nection weather-proof, a bottom member in each section, one overlying the other to form a weather-proof joint, a fixed cover member on the rear section covering the rear section and also the front section and extending between and projecting beyond the said sliding-joint, means on said cover forming a weather-proof joint at the upper ends of the respective sections, and means for supporting the front section with relation to the rear section and for locking the same against separation.

3. A meter box of the character described comprising a rectangular shaped box ver- 8Q downwardly over the front of tically divid d into cilefaipble front and rear sections, a vert' y disposed sliding joint forming a connection between the two sections, means for forming said slidin connection weather-proof, a bottom mem r in each section, one overlying the other to form a weather-proof joint, a fixed cover member on the rear section covering the rear section and also the front section said cover extending between and projecting beyond the said slidi joint of the sections, means on said cover orming a weather-proof joint at the upper ends of the respective sections, a pair of perforated lugs on the rear section, a rod extending through said lugs and forming a support. for the front section, and means for locking said rod against removal. I

4. A meter box of the character described comprising a rectangular shaped box vertically divided to form a separable front and rear section, said rear section consisting of a rear panel, side sections, a bottom section and a cover section, guide members formed on the front edges of the side sections, said front section consisting of a front late, side plates and a bottom section, annel shaped guides formed on the rear edges of the side sections and adapted to engage the guides formed on the side sections of the rear sections, said cover member on the rear section extending between the guides and projecting over the front section and having a lie projecting e front section and the side sections thereof to form a weather-proof joint, and the bottom of the front section underlying the bottom of the tically divided to form a separable front and rear section, said rear section consisting of a rear panel, side sections, a bottom section and a fixed cover section, guide members formed on the front edges of the side sections and located approximately midway between the front and rear edges of the cover, said front section consisting of a front plate, side plates and a bottom section, channel shaped guides formed on the rear edges of the side sections and adapted to engage the guides formed on the side sections of the rear section, said cover member on the rear section extending over the front section and having a flange rojecting downwardl over the front of t e front section and the side sections thereof to form a weather-proof joint and the bottom of the front section underlying the bottom of the rear section, a pair of perforated lugs formed on the sides of the rear section, a rod adapted to be received by said perforated lugs, said rod passing under the bottom of the front section and supporting the same, and means for locking the rod against removal.

ALBERT CASPER 

